Penrith Community Plan
List of Objectives and Discussions 2014/15
LEISURE, EVENTS AND AMENITIES
OBJECTIVE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME WOULD BE ... ORGANISATIONS OR COMMUNITY? COSTS /SOURCE
REALISTIC? COMPLETION? CONTACT (WILLING TO HELP) FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM FLIP-CHARTS 1 Large indoor activity space for young people in particular; Wickes suggested
Indoor space for young people, visitors. Nearest otherwise Manchester and Leeds Large and adaptable indoor space available to young people Volunteer steering gp needed in first instance. Set up as social enterprise (to access funds).
Too large for community YES: Local funding, investors, crowd-funding; commercially viable? Set up as social enterprise, to access funds YES, if people want it enough, but wd need serious pressure Short or medium term; get ahead on planning Virginia Taylor, yes Something like Wickes building: skatepark, roller disco, bouldering wall ...
2 Castle Park Lack of community use; need for an identity Wider community use of park, better facilities
EDC, Town Council, Community grants, other YES: larger-scale funding needed YES – but ideas rather vague
Medium or long term Richard Utting Bandstand open to buskers every weekend Cf Carlisle waterpark Multi-sport venue 3 Community Arts Venue No real quality theatre-type venue; attraction for evenings; space for plays,
Erection of a purpose-built theatre/hall
Local councils YES: Arts Council, Lottery
“Probably not – costs too high.”
4 Support for cycling hub, for locals and visitors
No
encouragement for cyclists to come into town. No storage facilities Provision of eg cycle lanes, cycle storage facilities Cycling organisations, unnamed NOT LARGE: local businesses
YES Medium term Richard Utting, yes?
5 Facilities audit Lack of current info re existing facilities Accurate list of facilities: what, where, for whom, new opportunities, scope for joint working, lead groups
Community Largely time, probably volunteers
YES Short term Hellen Aitken (ACT), yes
FLIPCHART SUGGESTIONS:
Music Festival; Book Festival*; clearly signed footpath to Castle Park; Investment in Castle Park (pond, fountain mentioned); decent live music venue; youth zone; kids’ bowling sessions; festivals throughout the year; better maintenance of existing facilities*; high quality environment in town centre to “have a sit down”;
Judith Derbyshire added a suggestion about something called ‘The Slide’ (google Bristol Giant Water Slide) – to provide one of what would be a number of events in town; I think therefore as an example of what would be possible . She’d be willing to help.
HERITAGE, BUILDINGS, CONSERVATION
OBJECTIVE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME WOULD BE ... ORGANISATIONS OR COMMUNITY? COSTS /SOURCEREALISTIC? COMPLETION? CONTACT (WILLING TO HELP) FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM FLIP-CHARTS 1 Housing: mismatch between existing housing, new projected housing, and housing needs
Young people leaving, population ageing > reduction in available workforce. Housing not balanced, not appropriate Community Plan and Neighbourhood Plan for housing, based on accurate survey of existing housing and projected need. PP, PTC, EDC, CCC, LEP, local businesses, developers, NHS, Chamber, HAs Largely time – Councils, comm. grant, BID, businesses, LEP, NHS ... Need to factor in social and econ. consequences of decreasing workforce, increasing older pop. Medium term – 5 years.
Judith Derbyshire, yes New housing linked to NEED, not what developers want to build
Need for genuine affordable housing that addresses fuel poverty 2 equal: Audit of historic buildings/empty shops Historic buildings, vacant units: no clear idea which, how many, Survey would gauge potential, identify opportunitiesprovid e accurate info for eg lobbying, Civic groups, Chamber, Residents’ assocs, Town Council, comm. grants Mainly done by volunteer gps, with overall coordinatio n; costs limited
YES Short term Nigel Jenkins, yes
3 Community led housing and related facilities Not enough diversity; lack of affordable homes (esp in low-wage encon.); need for realistic, balanced housing on Exemplar scheme within next 2 yrs; factor in low running/planning costs; secure tenancies; possibilities of income generation; energy project EDC, Town Council,Cumbria Rural Housing Trust, ???, land-owners Business (inc. funding) in place YES – see example of Crosby Ravensworth
Medium term Andy Lloyd, Peter Ward Develop proactive housing policy integrated with local economy*** Improve energy efficiency
land. Need urgent to inform current planning See also under Transport and Environment
Noted as 2 equal but with no detail: promotion of heritage; noted as 3 equal but with no detail: high environmental standards for new homes
FLIPCHART SUGGESTIONS
Apprentice programme to look after built heritage; use railway station to promote town; clean/maintain shop-fronts; encourage community housing/self-build*****; revitalise conservation policy (signage, colour palette); document empty, poorly maintained buildings**; improvements to existing buildings (eg insulation)***; Penrith to be exemplar for other areas on eg energy efficiency***; improve energy efficiency of existing stockBetter promotion of heritage (signage, website etc)*******; better protection of heritage; change of use of empty pubs (often of hist significance)****; RICHARD III
TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
OBJECTIVE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME WOULD BE ... ORGANISATIONS OR COMMUNITY? COSTS /SOURCEREALISTIC? COMPLETION? CONTACT (WILLING TO HELP) FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM FLIP-CHARTS 1 Promotion of Community Transport Schemes Lack of info re schemes Shortage of scheduled transport schemes Public awareness of existing schemes, via Parish mags, websites, local councillors, press releases CCC, parish councils, Penrith groups
None Yes Short term Tracey Moran,
Lawrie Heaton, Chris Game; yes
New housing linked to NEED, not what developers want to build
Need for genuine affordable housing that addresses fuel poverty 1 equal: Pedestrianising town centre Heavy traffic through centre, when cd be directed round perimeter
More attractive town; more visitors; benefits to trade; cleaner/greener centre
All four “vision” groups; residents; special advisers (already work in progress) Primarily community, but funding needed to present clear vision. Funding fm BID, Comm. Grant,
Yes Medium term John Bodger; yes
3 “Clean Team”
Excessive litter in centre, streets, parks, green spaces
Noticeable decrease in litter; gradual reduction in amounts collected
Town council; EDC; voluntary gps; shops; fast food outlets; schools; youth gps High comm. involvement; sponsorship from businesses. Funding from EDC, Town Council,
Yes Medium term Robin Howse; perhaps? Develop proactive housing policy integrated with local economy*** Improve energy efficiency
sponsors FLIPCHART SUGGESTIONS
TRANSPORT: Use smaller buses; develop a transport card (cf London Oyster); mobilise volunteers to meet need; better bus-routes; park and ride scheme(s); more free accessible parking’ improve cycle ways; policing to stop parking on pavements; bus routes to include retail parks; traffic wardens to be replaced by “Town Centre Ambassadors”
ENVIRONMENT: Build “Pride in Penrith”; coordinate town websites; develop marketing strategy; improve sports facilities in Castle Park; improve public toilets; tighter planning /design standards in cons. areas; preserve historic buildings; limits on numbers of new houses; limits on numbers of take-aways, charity shops; develop comm. arts venue** (see also under Leisure, Events and Amenities; maintain facades of hist. buildings* (see also under Heritage); more trees; more seating; more planters (but not hanging baskets); sort out Penrith Pong; regular litter-picks (see under 3 here); hose down streets; improve signposting; sort out dog-fouling, grot spots, unsightly recycling areas; improve facilities for people with disabilities; more allotments; maintain and improve pavements
ECONOMY, RETAIL, JOBS
OBJECTIVE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME WOULD BE ... ORGANISATIONS OR COMMUNITY? COSTS /SOURCEREALISTIC? COMPLETION? CONTACT (WILLING TO HELP) FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM FLIP-CHARTS 1 Market town revived Current mkt “pitifully small”, lacks variety, not attractive Market day substantial draw; centred around clock-tower (closed to traffic); spread into New Squares; attractive stalls; good signage
Local producers (> farmerss’ mkt); district council for streets closed; police for managing footfall
Funding for stalls/signage/pr omotion/media. Met by EDC, Town Council, BID, community grant, donations
YES Medium term Deb Holden; yes, but
not sure how New housing linked to NEED, not what developers want to build
Need for genuine affordable housing that addresses fuel poverty
2. Encourage independent shops
Ind. shops can’t survive in town centre because overheads too high
Better provision of ind. shops, more footfall
EDC, landlords Reduction in rents, rates
Yes Longer term Jo Hardy; no
2 equal: Town census, bench-marking
Need for more accurate understanding of how centre structured: businesses, quantity and location of vacancies A. Record to compare with local/national standards; have to hand justification for supportive initiatives; improved evidence B. Reduction in vacancies through Partnership: Chamber, Tot.Loc, BID
None Yes Short term D. McGifferd, visitor from Sandback; yes, from a distance
Develop proactive housing policy integrated with local economy*** Improve energy efficiency
intervention 4. Pop-Up Shops (POPS) Empty shops in various areas Help start-ups; seasonal shops; restrictions/ paperwork eased; easier to take over premises Town Council; Chamber; Tot.Loc; community gps Costs low; if nec funding from EDC, Town Council, BID
Yes Short term David Bridgwood; yes on a limited basis
4 equal: reduce business rates
Rates a problem for ind. shops both existing and new; compare
unfavourably with rates for out-of-town retail, charity shops
Fairer business rate system > increase in number of ind. shops in centre
District Council, District Valuer, local businesses
About fairer rates not just lower rates. Comm can’t do much on its own but cd help. Funding from EDC, Town Council, BID
Yes Medium term Andrea Willett; no
4 equal: Low Wage Economy
Eden has low wages (retail, hospitality, rural jobs + zero-hour contracts
People earning “living wage” and living in adequate housing National companies/Council/ Government/local employers Community, individually and collectively; public pressure No, unless with “massive pubic pressure”: funding from EDC, Town Council, BID
Longer term Jennifer Heaton and Carol Mitchell; yes
Unnumbered: audit of Penrith companies Lack of higher-paid jobs; types of industry attractable not known Build on industries already located in Penrith; create more jobs
Local companies Cost of audit: EDC, Town Countil, BID
Yes Short term M. Eyles; yes
IDEAS FROM FLIPCHARTS
Wickes – needs ideas, too many supermkts; Devonshire Arcade – new doors!; big chains for New Squares; appropriate signage/shopfronts; lock rents for
businesses; open community shop in empty unit; more wi-fi access; more outside cafés with music; pedestrianize shopping area*; more local produce; more
free parking
YOUTH PROVISION
OBJECTIVE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME WOULD BE ... ORGANISATIONS OR COMMUNITY? COSTS /SOURCEREALISTIC? COMPLETION? CONTACT (WILLING TO HELP) FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM FLIP-CHARTS 1 Youth Space Nowhere to meet
without complaints from local residents
Area with some shelter; encourage self-policing, so gp takes responsibility for behaviour. Maybe Castle Park (but see Leisure, Events, Amenities, priority 1 Young people’s organisations Funding for shelter; EDC, Town Council, BID; Comm grant (grants from each)
YES Short term M. Eyles; yes
2. Forum for young people No means for young people to be listened to in Penrith Gp meetings at reasonably regular intervals, collecting ideas/proposals.
Schools, youth clubs, young people’s organisatins
In first instance, no cost other than time
Yes Short term Ron Kenyon, Mike Eyles, Jane Taylor; yes
3. Better–paid jobs for young people
Mostly low-paid jobs in town, so many young people leave (esp QEGS). Aim to retain; we shall in the future be short of manpower
Need for research, locally: possibilities of devt in Gillwilly? Audit of what is being done to attract business. Research into
successes/initiatives elsewhere.
EDC, CCC, Chamber In first instance, no necessary cost
Yes Short term Ron Kenyon; ?
NB: see under Economy, Shops, Jobs, priority 4 equal Develop proactive housing policy integrated with local economy*** Improve energy efficiency
